The priests and faithful of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis woke up on the morning of Oct. 18 to the news that Pope Francis had named Bishop Andrew Cozzens as the new bishop of the Diocese of Crookston. I personally feel very blessed that I have had the chance to work so closely with him since I first arrived here in June 2015. With a keen intellect, solid moral compass, evangelical zeal and an amazing dose of Christ’s compassion, Bishop Cozzens has proven himself a highly effective leader and faithful friend. I always imagined that Pope Francis would someday call Bishop Cozzens to lead a diocese, and I will always be grateful that our archdiocese benefited from his leadership for as long as we have.
At a recent social gathering of our archdiocesan seminarians, I was edified to hear so many of them share experiences of Bishop Cozzens that had, over their young lives, inspired them to deepen their commitments to Christ and his Church. It was not only a moving tribute to Bishop Cozzens, but also a testimony to the impact that a priest can have on the lives of his flock, even beyond his wildest imaginings. I hope that it was a powerful reminder for Bishop Cozzens, as he prepares for his new ministry in Crookston, of what the Lord is able to do through all of us when we place ourselves in his hands.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda
Today, the task of naming or confirming Latin Rite bishops throughout the world falls uniquely to Pope Francis, as successor to the first pope, St. Peter, whom the Lord distinguished as the “Rock” on which he would build his Church and whom Jesus designated to “strengthen” his brother Apostles. I happened to be in St. Peter’s Square on March 19, 2013, the day when Pope Francis, newly elected as bishop of Rome, received his Fisherman’s Ring and pallium, the signs of his new office, and I will never forget that liturgy. As Pope Francis solemnly processed to the altar for the beginning of Mass, the piazza resonated with Palestrina’s “Tu es Petrus” (“You are Peter”), reminding Pope Francis that he now stood in the place of Peter and was being called to serve as “universal pastor.”
When Bishop Cozzens is installed at the cathedral in Crookston, the representative of the “universal pastor” in the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, will read a letter, signed by Pope Francis himself, to his “venerable brother,” Bishop Cozzens, sending him to serve in Crookston. There’s something so beautiful in being “sent” to a Church, just as Jesus sent out the Twelve. In fact, the very word “apostle” comes from the Greek word meaning a “person sent.” A bishop never applies for a diocese, or auditions for a diocese: He is there because the pope, the successor of Peter, has sent him.
It will, accordingly, be Pope Francis who will likewise be responsible for naming any auxiliary bishops to this archdiocese. The Code of Canon Law, however, requires the bishops of each ecclesiastical province (in our case the bishops of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota) to periodically submit names of priests who they think might be suitable for the episcopate. Moreover, a bishop, like me, who judges that an auxiliary should be given to his diocese, is required to suggest to the Apostolic See a list of at least three priests whom he thinks would be suitable as an auxiliary. You might recall, moreover, that when I was serving as the administrator of this archdiocese, I asked all the priests and faithful to suggest names of priests whom they thought would make good bishops. I submitted at that time all of those names to the Holy See.
The Holy Father isn’t bound to choose from among any of those names, but I would imagine that those suggestions become the basis for his broader consultation. Perhaps some of you, our priests and lay leaders, have already been consulted as the Holy See strives to find just the right candidates, not only for our archdiocese, but also for the other dioceses in Minnesota and beyond needing bishops. The Code of Canon Law tells us that the ideal candidate will be a priest over the age of 35, ordained for at least five years, with a good reputation. It specifies, moreover, that the candidate is to be “outstanding in solid faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence and human virtues, and endowed with other qualities which make him suitable to fulfill the office in question.” He is also to be “truly expert” in sacred Scripture, theology or canon law. The requirements are demanding, but we are blessed here in the archdiocese to have many priests who meet those criteria.
As you continue to pray for Bishop Cozzens, I would ask that you would pray also for our archdiocese and for Pope Francis, as he discerns how best to meet the needs of this archdiocese for good shepherds after the heart of Jesus. Pray as well for any of our priests who might be asked to serve as bishops, that they might have the courage to say “yes.”
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